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See the full story · 1 sourcesWhat we know about Kevin Costner's role on Netflix's MLB Field of Dreams broadcast originally appeared on The Sporting News .
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No single person is more associated with the Field of Dreams than Kevin Costner, so it's only fitting that Costner plays a role in MLB's Field of Dreams game.
Costner was part of the broadcast five years ago when the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox played in the first Field of Dreams game, but that was when the game was broadcast on Fox. Now that Netflix is calling the game for the first time, the streaming service wants to incorporate as many elements from the movie as possible.
Therefore, Costner is expected to be the special guest on Thursday night's broadcast. This marks Netflix's third baseball broadcast of the year, and it has invited many special guests to those two events, packing the broadcast with famous actors and non-playing athletes.
For the Field of Dreams game, though, Costner seems to be the lone special guest on the docket, allowing Netflix to focus on the environment. Here's the role that Costner is expected to play.
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What is Kevin Costner's role for Netflix Field of Dreams broadcast?
Costner played a big role in the first ever Field of Dreams game, leading the Yankees and White Sox onto the field before giving a speech. Overall, Costner's portion of the broadcast lasted around 10 minutes.
The following year, Costner didn't return for the second Field of Dreams game, when the Reds played the Cubs, and the game has since been on hiatus. With MLB returning to Iowa but moving from Fox to Netflix, the streaming service wanted to bring Costner in as part of the broadcast.
Netflix hasn't confirmed whether Costner will be present in Iowa or just assisting the broadcast with prerecorded content. Overall, Netflix seems to want to keep Costner's role under wraps.
"Kevin is an icon," Gabe Spitzer, vice president of global live sports and entertainment of Netflix, said . "I don't want to spoil any of the fun, but he'll be a part of our broadcast in some way. I can't say if he's going to be there or not but definitely, he'll show up. The movie will feel present in what we're doing."
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Netflix Field of Dreams Game broadcast team
Broadcast booth
Matt Vasgersian
CC Sabathia
Hunter Pence
Analyst desk
Elle Duncan
Barry Bonds
Albert Pujols
Anthony Rizzo
On-field reporter
Lauren Shehadi
Special guest
Kevin Costner
The Netflix broadcast will feature many familiar faces as the streaming service wraps up its first season of MLB coverage. Matt Vasgersian will be on the call, with CC Sabathia and Hunter Pence expected to work as the color commentators like they did on Opening Night.
The analyst desk also has some star power, headlined by Barry Bonds, who doesn't do many media appearances. He will be joined by Albert Pujols and Anthony Rizzo as fellow analysts, while Elle Duncan will once again be the host.
Lauren Shehadi joins the broadcast as an on-field reporter, which she has done for years on TBS, and Kevin Costner is expected to be the broadcast's special guest.
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